Charlie Hubbard gives back to Kahukura club

He played 21 games for the Steamers - now Charlie Hubbard is looking to give back to his club, Kahukura, taking on the head coaching role.

The 36-year-old got his first taste of coaching Kahukura in the Central Bay of Plenty Banner Round at the weekend and it was a bittersweet experience, with his team playing well but going down to Waikite 25-20 in the dying seconds of the match.

Although it was a loss, Hubbard told The Daily Post yesterday, his team probably learned more from a loss, than they would have from a win.

"They'll come together all right. To be honest, I know it's hard but it's good for them to probably lose... A lot of the boys - it was their first game out of school really. A lot of them hadn't had a taste of senior rugby at all. I suppose to come up against Waikite was a challenge in itself. Let alone have this as your first game."

Hubbard who played halfback for the Steamers from 2000 to 2007 and played all his club rugby for Kahukura - takes over the coaching role from Pere Paul.

"With Pere kind of stepping down. I thought it might be an opportunity to try and contribute back. The club has been good to me over the years. So it was probably a way to giving back to the club."

Hubbard is the third former Steamer to try his hand at coaching this season - former lock John Moore is coaching Ngongotaha and former Steamers' captain Wayne Ormond is the Rotoiti coach.

Kahukura, who are in Division One of Baywide Rugby, have an exciting new look to the team with Dougie Fluker taking the captaincy role and former Western Height's High School student Jordan Poi taking the first-five role for the team.

Hubbard said his goal for the team this year was to try and make the top four in Division One.

"Anything after that is a bonus."

In their home match at Kuirau Park, Kahukura looked dynamic despite the mighty onslaught of a big Waikite forward pack.

The visitors looked to keep it tight, especially playing into a strong southwesterly and were rewarded for their efforts with the first try of the day.

However, Kahukura kept their composure and scored with a converted try. The home side converted two more penalties before the break while Waikite grabbed a converted try to trail 13-12.

After the break the home side scored a converted try while Waikite scored a try and two penalties to level it up. With time up on the clock Waikite scored to break the deadlock. Waikite will now face Rotoiti in the semi-final after they won their match against Reporoa by default. In the other match played in the round Ngongotaha overcame Marist St Michaels to win 33-10.

Whakarewarewa will host Ngongotaha on Saturday March 10 in the second semi-final.